An Atheist praises the Lutheran Church for their courageous decision
I've taken a break from writing because I find myself too angry about the insanity of the Republican party, the cowardice of many Democrats, the corruptness of Max F*ckus and most of the Senate (Please, Al Franken - stir some shit up. The Senate does not deserve nor should they receive any level of cordiality, politeness or respect).
But I'm still too angry to write about that - as I'd probably get kicked off for saying something objectionable. So it comes as a total surprise that I decide to write about an evangelical congregation. Normally, I tend to be extremely critical of Christianity. BUT - there are times when the church gets it exactly right. And this time, getting it right means facing an extreme backlash and the possibility of the loss of membership and in turn revenue.
As you may or may not know, members of the nation's largest Lutheran denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America made the brave decision to lift a ban prohibiting sexually active gays and lesbians from serving as ministers. Now, gays and lesbians who are in committed relationships will be allowed to serve as clergy. In my opinion - this is huge. As I said, there are those who are even now considering leaving the denomination or who are trying to funnel donations to more conservative congregations who refuse to accept this courageous decision.
I believe eventually this will be seen as the correct decision, and I can only hope that more denominations will follow suit. I sent a letter of support to the email address listed (copy below) and I encourage you to do the same.
I was recently asked the question whether conservative Christians had the right to support anti gay marriage initiatives based on their religious convictions. I said they had the right just as long as they would just as vocally support anti-miscegenation laws today since there is literally no difference. But then I realized just how many might just take me up on the offer - and I revised my answer to a simple "NO!". I don't have a stake in this fight - as I'm a happily married heterosexual man. I just have no doubt that our gay friends, neighbors, brothers, sisters, and now preachers didn't choose to be gay, any more than Carrie Prejean didn't choose to be an ignorant fool. Oh - wait.......
Letter to info@elca (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) follows:
GOD BLESS YOU!!!
I start by letting you know that I'm an atheist and have always been the first to challenge the various faiths when I thought they made poor decisions. Needless to say - I challenged often. I'm also a happily married heterosexual man - so I don't have any personal interest in this decision other than what I believe is just and right.
But from time to time, a particular faith makes a decision or takes a stand on a difficult issue even in the face of criticism from within their own denomination.
Your decision to allow committed loving gay couples who are sexually active to serve as clergy is one of the finest examples of a church actually asking WWJD - and then actually having the courage to following through with it.
I believe there will be a backlash which will initially reduce your membership, and there may be times when you ask if you've made the right decision. I can only hope that you can stay the course and eventually others will follow. This is a civil rights issue - and a statement that people don't choose sexuality any more than they choose their race.
In the last eight years, the move toward a more conservative literal interpretation of the bible and the outspoken members of the "religious right" have made me even more certain in my own views. They have given me ammunition and a desire to fight for what I believe in. I know I am not alone, as can be seen by the highly successful books by atheist authors Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens to name a few. If the goal was to convert the unconvinced, the skeptical or even the fervent non-believer, most churches did just the opposite.
I can guarantee you that this decision will bring many people to your congregation who are just as tired as I am of hypocrisy preached by many evangelical church leaders and their membership. You may even win over a few of those who were previously disgusted with what they saw as the mistreatment of our brothers and sisters of society - just because they were born different.
So - I will reiterate my original statement. From the bottom of my heart - GOD BLESS YOU!
